Kate Middleton stepped out in a statement red suit on Thursday as she hosted a reception at Windsor Castle celebrating the England Women’s Rugby team’s World Cup victory.
The suit, by Alexander McQueen, was a vibrant, bold choice and likely a literal nod to the Rugby Team, who are known as the ‘Red Roses’.
The look also contrasted beautifully against the squad’s darker suits in the formal group photo.
The Suit
The suit was a smart, considered choice for the Princess, reinforcing her role as Patron of the Rugby Football Union.
She paired McQueen’s Leaf Crepe Drop Hem Jacket in ‘Welsh Red’ with matching trousers.
The blazer jacket features peak lapels, angled flap pockets and a distinctive drop hem. It fastens neatly with a single button at the waist.
The coordinating trousers fall fluidly from the hip and skim the floor with a crisp front crease.
Note: I’m not sure if Kate’s wearing the exact pair of trousers pictured on the model above; I suspect hers are a slightly wider cut.
This marks the third public outing for the suit. Kate first wore the look in January 2023 for the Shaping Us pre-campaign launch (below left), and brought it back again in May 2023 for the Coronation Concert (below right).
The suit is no longer available to buy off-the-peg. For anybody hoping to wear something like this for an event, I do have a few options for you:
Flannels stocks the suit in white (but only in limited sizes).
You can find a few other Alexander McQueen ‘drop hem’ blazers in different colours on FarFetch, including this wool-mix jacket in apple green and this wool blazer in cobalt blue. I’m not seeing the matching trousers, though.
As for RepliKates (a way to copy Kate and get the look for less), I’ve got two options for you. The first is a red jacket from Marella and what looks like matching trousers (you might want to check with customer service before purchasing). RRP £159 for the jacket and £72 for the trousers.
Mango also have an affordable option you might like: a £79.99 suit jacket and a pair of £49.99 trousers.
The Top
It’s hard to say exactly what Kate wore under her suit jacket, but I’d guess that it’s her white Shirt Bodysuit by Holland Cooper:
The tailored bodysuit is a wardrobe staple that she has owned for several years. It creates the appearance of a perfectly tucked-in blouse, making it a practical yet polished layering piece.
The garment is described by Holland Cooper as a ‘stunning lightweight shirt bodysuit‘ that was ‘designed with a day to night concept in mind‘.
It’s crafted from a cupro/viscose mix fabric and retails for £149 at HollandCooper.com. The top is available in three different sizes, S M L.
Let’s move on to Kate’s jewellery now.
The Earrings
The Princess accessorised with a pair of vintage pearl earrings, which we believe were sourced from Katherine James Jewellery.
I found this listing for the earrings on the KJJ website, suggesting Kate purchased them from the jeweller (or somebody close to her did, if they were a gift, for instance).
Crafted in 18ct yellow gold, the sculptural earrings feature five luminous pearls set among coral-like gold branches.
The earrings, described as ‘mega-sized’, originally retailed for £995.
The Princess debuted the earrings during a visit to HMP Styal in February 2025 (below), making this just their second public outing to date.
As they’re vintage, I’m guessing it’s unlikely you’d be able to source another pair.
The Necklace
The Princess also wore her Auree Bali January Garnet Birthstone Necklace to the Red Roses’ reception.
The piece is a delicate 9ct yellow gold design that features a bezel-set garnet alongside a polished gold disc.
Kate is believed to have first worn the necklace in 2022 in a photograph taken showing her baking with her children during the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
She later rewore the necklace during a visit to Colchester Hospital in July 2025.
Of course, Kate’s birthday is in January, and her birthstone is Garnet.
The Shoes
Kate completed the look with pointed-toe stiletto heels, believed to be the Gianvito Rossi 105 style.
The 105mm heel and sharply pointed toe offered a refined finish that worked seamlessly with the suit’s wide-leg tailoring.
A few bloggers and content creators think the Princess wore the shoe in red velvet (top). Others think she wore the red suede pair she already owns (bottom). It’s quite difficult to tell, really.
Either way, she’s a big fan of the style and owns she shoe in at least 10 other colours! It wouldn’t surprise me to learn she’s added the red velvet to her collection, too.
Palace Tour
Ahead of the reception, the Red Roses were given a tour of Windsor Castle before joining the Princess to mark their achievement.
A few more photos from the event:
The England Women’s Rugby team sealed their World Cup victory with a 33–13 win in the final last September at Twickenham Stadium. While Kate did not attend the final itself, she did watch the team defeat Australia 47–7 during the pool stages in Brighton, later joining the players in the dressing room to celebrate the win.
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